Coming Home to Aurelius 4

Hey! Its a really short chapter and a little grammatically incorrect but I'm in a tough spot. My family decided to go on a sudden vacation to Tuscany. So here I am in a huge old mansion with dad's laptop. So please forgive me if the story's slow or boring.

I'm sorry that the last entry wasn't formatted right, but as you can understand, I'm short on time. I hate not being able to reply to your comments. But bear with me.

You'd think I'll be having a ball because there's a really cute guy here, but no. As mentioned earlier, my darling brothers are acting up. Male PMS! Thank God at least two of them'll be joined by their fiance's tomorrow!

Keep reading and commenting. I need it now more than ever!
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Alexis had fallen into a tired doze reading her uncle's journal. She'd had a troubled night. Memories that the entries raised had reminded her of what she'd lost. Weary, she'd gone to sleep but with a sense of purpose.
She'd discovered that her uncle had planned on getting a dog, apparently the ranch needed one. Well then, a dog it would be.
But Alexis had no idea about what kind she wanted. With her travelling around so much, there'd never been space for a pet. It would've been cruel to cart it from one place to another.

She needed help and as soon as she thought that, you know who's face popped into her head. Cuddling her pillow dreamily, she replayed last night's kiss.
Her first kiss.
Maybe that was stretching it.
But it was most definitely her first best kiss.
Alexis couldn't bring herself to call the Carmichael's ranch. She needed to rebuild her ability to speak around Oscar before that.

With an enormous effort, she propelled herself out of her bed and into the bathroom. Emerging a few minutes later she pulled on a white tank top and a wide canary yellow peasant skirt.

Floating down, her head still up in the clouds about last night, she walked into a solid male form at the bottom of the stairs.

Looking up, she found herself staring straight into Oscar's eyes. Which were spitting fire at her, his jaw clenched with rage.
Unsure of the cause of his anger and startled by the sudden encounter, Alexis, stepped back and stumbled, but was saved as Oscar's arm shot out and caught her around the waist in an iron grip.

Silently, he steered her to the living room, when Alexis caught sight of a frantic Bertha who was indicating to something outside.
Even more confused than before, Alexis found herself sitting on the sofa while Oscar paced in front of her seething, "So what you said last night was just a joke a gimmick. Is it what you say to every man you meet before you run out on him? Or was it just fun doing it to me."
Staring at him blankly, her own anger rising slightly she interjected, "Oscar! Just stop pacing will you. I meant everything. And how can you accuse me of being a tramp?"
Oscar had stopped pacing, but that was replaced by a still, intense glare, "You lead me to believe that you feel something for me, for this place. When actually you're leaving the very next day!" Now she was really lost.
She stammered, "Leaving? Where'd that come from? The oly place i had planned on going to was to buy a dog. . . "
Oscar cut her off, "You don't need a trailer to get a dog."
Noticing what could only be true distress and confusion on her face, he indicated to the window, where he pulled the drapes, to reveal a New York moving company's trailer.
Laughing with relief Alexis turned on him, with her hands on her hips, "Look closely at what those men are doing Oscar and then we'll talk."

Shooting one final glare in her direction, he looked out. Two men huffed as the pulled boxes OUT of the back.
Just as a light bulb sparked in his mind throbbing with anger, He felt Alexis slip her tiny hand into his as she pulled him away from the window saying, "I'm moving in. Permanently. Not out."

Oscar was shocked at the intensity of the relief he felt. He sank into the couch pulling Alexis down with him, "I'm sorry. I saw the damn thing pulling up grass, presumed the worst, felt hurt and well stuck my foot in my mouth. Again. I'm so incredibly sorry."
Alexis was all tingly from the feel of his hands on her naked arms where he gripped her tightly.
But she shooed the butterflies away and addressed Oscar with a smile, "More like both feet in your mouth, but I’m growing used to it." Summoning all her courage she asked, "Would it matter to you if I left?"
Oscar pulled her into his arms, "More than I could have ever imagined. You little witch, you charmed your way under my skin."

Alexis could have been knocked down by a feather right then.
Still plastered to Oscar's chest, her hands pressed to his chest, she sighed contentedly. It felt good to be held.
Oscar ran his fingers through Alex's baby soft hair, getting tangled in the enchanting waves. His hot breath fanned across her as he pressed his cheek to her hair.
Suddenly he recalled a certain part of their conversation, "What was the part about going to buy a dog about?"
Alexis sat up, her eyes feverish with purpose, "Uncle Alan wanted a dog. He thought the ranch needed one. So I'm going to get one. But I have no clue . . . . . "
Oscar was nodding," I know a breeder. We could go down there if you like. I suggest you get a pup, bring it up yourself."
Alexis's eyes sparkled as she hugged him spontaneously, "Thank you! I thought of calling you for help. When can we go?"
Laughing at her enthusiasm, he responded in kind, "As soon as you get some shoes on. What do you have against them anyway?"
Alexis giggled, loving the fact that Oscar was still holding her hand, "I like the feel of the ground. You should try it."
Oscar's attitude suddenly changed as he raked his eyes up and down her and said, "I like how they look. Now go get ready. Dress un-casual, the chap's a snooty Englishman. I'll call them and then we'll hit the road."
Still blushing from his appraisal, Alexis hurried to her room. She quickly changed into a pair of jeans and peach corset top with lacey sleeves.

She rolled her eyes at her reflection. She was going to look at dogs for heaven sake. Pulling on a pair of ballet flats, she hurried downstairs with a checkbook in her purse.
Oscar was staring out of the window.
Alex stood staring at his profile, tall, proud and strong. He would send a sculptor running for his chisel.
Winking at her uncle's photograph, she padded into the room.
Oscar turned almost immediately an incredibly sexy smile lighting up his face, "You know the smell of whatever fruity stuff you use gives you away no matter how silent you are?"
Alexis rolled her eyes, "Your fragrance gives you away too you know. I'll bet my next paycheck that it’s Armani."
How he'd managed it, she didn't know, but she found herself in his arms, her hands resting on his shoulders.
He smiled down puzzled, "First, you don't work, so you don't have a paycheck to risk. Second, how'd you guess. Third we need to get going"
Alexis smiled up at him happily, too happy to play cat and mouse, "Well Mr. Inventory, first, Dad uses the same fragrance. Second, let go of me and I'll race you to the car."

An hour and half of banter with her sexy companion later, Alexis was sitting on the grass uncaring of her clothes, cuddling four Australian shepherd pups!
They were black and white and extremely adorable and smelly as new born puppies usually are.
Two were rolling about on her lap, yapping softly. Another had lodged itself near her neck, licking her cheek while the last was sucking her fingers.

Mr. Yates, the snooty dog breeder and Oscar were standing nearby. She could tell from Oscar's posture that he really couldn't stand the man. He was a nice man to be sure.
But he thought of himself as Lord Byron's descendant. Now that was a painful personality disorder.
One of the pups in her lap had fallen asleep. Just as she looked up, she found Oscar bending down to join her, gently stroking the head of the sleeping pup, "So which one's the lucky one? They're all pretty darling aren't they?"
Alexis looked up, indecision clearly written on her face. She looked down at the babies in her lap and bit her lip.
The decision wasn't hard to make.
She looked up, ready to fight any argument.
Her eyes collided with Oscar's.
He did the most surprising thing ever.
He kissed her on the lips and stood up saying, "I'll tell the poet we'll take them all."
Alexis stared up at him with her mouth agape, "How'd you know I wanted to keep all of them?"
Oscar shot a grin at her as he walked away, "Figure it out. Wrack that pretty head of yours till I return."
Less than fifteen minutes later, a few men, who could only be the poet's men came with separate padded baskets for the pups one handed her dog care manuals and said they'd already loaded the paraphernalia into the car.
She loathed to let go of the dogs, but she knew they had to be settled in properly, so they wouldn't be jostled. Oscar was striding towards her, with a smile on his face.
He pulled her off the ground and planted a kiss on her forehead, "Like what you got?"
Looking up at him with a cheeky smile she teased, "The pups or the kiss?"
She melted under his gaze and was saved from any teasing as Sally, the mother of the pups, pawed her.
Kneeling and petting the dog she hugged it and said, "I'll take good care of them. I promise." Kissing her head, she got up, and walked with Oscar to the car.
Oscar looked down at the girl next to him. Sure she was 22, but she was a girl.
As vulnerable as a child.
His heart filled with a strange tenderness, as he saw her adjust the blankets in the baskets.
He couldn't name what he felt, but he knew Alexis was special. She made him feel more alive than anyone ever had.
Even when she smelt like a pup herself.
She was saying something, but his ears had tuned out, all he could do, was watch the emotions flit across her face.
He drank in the sight. Usually she was so reserved, so shy and careful of what she did or said, it was divine to watch her open up.

She looked startled when he motioned for her to get into the car, "But I haven't paid for them yet!" Oscar's eyes glittered with secrets as he said, "Its been taken care of."
A look of comprehension followed by chagrin dawned on her face, "You didn't . . . . "
"He sure did. "said Mr. Yates as he joined them.

She was just about to protest when Oscar dived in and tackled her into the car seat with a quick goodbye to the wannabe poet and brought them to the road back home.
She'd protested, requested, but to no avail.

Finally at the ranch, Oscar, pulled her out of the car, held her to him and said firmly but gently as he caressed the silky skin on her arms, "I WANT to give this to you. So please drop it, here and now." Now what girl, with a regular amount of estrogen wouldn't melt under his ............influence.

Standing up on her toes, she kissed Oscar on his lips.
What started as a gentle kiss, soon escalated into not something hard or raunchy, but something with deeper meaning. Something that conveyed more than words ever could.

Alexis clung to Oscar as if he were the only solid thing in the world while her held her to him as if trying to weld their bodies together. Alexis let out a tiny whimper of pleasure as Oscar sucked on her lower lip. She ran her hand through his hair as his hands tangled in hers and held her head firmly as he kissed her with increasing intensity.

"Mommy look! Unca Osca an' Aunty Alex are kissing!" Hearing Jeremy's high pitched voice, Oscar and Alexis stopped kissing but didn't let go of each other as they turned to face the visitors, including his parents.

Awkward!